Smart Neck Pillow

ABSTRACT

A smart neck pillow is disclosed which includes a body having a U-shaped part, wherein the body includes a first neck support extending upwards from the U-shaped part to support an occiput of a user, the first neck support having a via corresponding to a center of the occiput, and a control module and a plurality of pressure detection modules arranged on the body, the plurality of pressure detection modules being electrically connected to the control module, the plurality of pressure detection modules being arranged at least on the upper side, the left side and the right side of the via of the first neck support. The smart neck pillow monitors sleeping posture information of the user to farthest avoid causing damage to the cervical vertebrae.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Application No.201710966059.X filed on Oct. 17, 2017, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of pillows, and inparticular, to a smart neck pillow.

BACKGROUNDS

A neck pillow is a new model of cervical vertebrae protection productsusually comprising a U-shaped body. When used, the neck pillow isarranged around the neck and attached to the top of the shoulder, sothat a user leaning on a seat would have his or her head steadilysupported. The support is also soft and comfortable to greatly reducestrain on the cervical vertebrae. However, existing neck pillows are notsmart enough to inform the user of his or her own sleeping data duringuse. Strain on the cervical vertebrae would still cause damage theretoif the user keeps in a single posture for a long time or an incorrectposture.

SUMMARY

One technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is toprovide a smart neck pillow for monitoring a user sleeping posture toavoid causing damage to the cervical vertebrae.

A smart neck pillow according to the present disclosure includes a bodyhaving a U-shaped part, wherein the body includes a first neck supportextending upwards from the U-shaped part to support an occiput of auser, the first neck support having a via corresponding to a center ofthe occiput, and a control module and a plurality of pressure detectionmodules arranged on the body, the plurality of pressure detectionmodules being electrically connected to the control module, theplurality of pressure detection modules being arranged at least on theupper side, the left side and the right side of the via of the firstneck support.

The embodiments as described above have the following advantages: Thepressure detection modules of the smart neck pillow are used to detectthe sleeping posture of the human body. The pressure detection modulesare distributed on the upper side, the left side and the right side ofthe via of the first neck support. The magnitude of a pressure detectedby the pressure detection module on the upper side is used to determinewhether the head is leaned forward or backward, and the differencebetween the pressures detected by the left and right pressure detectionmodules is used to determine whether the head is leaned leftwards orrightwards. The sleeping posture information collected is more accurateand comprehensive. Each item of sleeping posture information collectedby the pressure detection module and the time duration the user spendsin that posture are recorded after being processed by the controlmodule, so that a series of personal cervical vertebrae data can besummarized after a long time of usage by the user. The personal data iscompared to medical occipital lesions of the cervical vertebrae toinform the user of any possible cervical vertebrae problems and offeradvice on a correct sleeping posture and prevention from occipitallesions.

In some embodiments, the pressure detection modules are further arrangedon the lower side of the via of the first neck support. Thisconfiguration can be used for a more accurate determination of forwardand backward leaning by the pressure detection modules on the upperside, or a tightness level about matching of the U-shaped part and thehuman neck to allow proper user adjustment.

In some embodiments, the control module includes a communication unitcommunicatively coupled to a user mobile terminal. This configurationallows uploading the sleeping posture information and he time durationcollected by the control module to the user mobile terminal. The userhas more convenience in acquiring the personal cervical vertebrae dataand advice.

In some embodiments, the smart neck pillow further includes a horizontalgyroscope module electrically connected to the control module andarranged on the body. With this configuration, the leaning orientationof the user's head can be collected by the pressure detection modules,and the leaning angle and orientation of the user's upper body can becollected by the horizontal gyroscope module. More comprehensivesleeping posture information can be collected.

In some embodiments, the smart neck pillow further includes a PCB box.The control module and the horizontal gyroscope module are installed inthe PCB box. The body includes a mounting cavity, and the PCB box isinstalled in the mounting cavity of the body. By installing the controlmodule and the horizontal gyroscope together, a concise structure isachieved which serves as protection for the electronic components. Userconvenience is not affected since the PCB box is embedded in the body.

In some embodiments, positioning grooves are arranged on the upper side,the left side and the right side of the via of the first neck support toposition the pressure detection modules properly.

In some embodiments, the body includes an upper body and a lower body.Mounting grooves are arranged on a contacting surface of one of theupper body and the lower body. A contacting surface of the other one ofthe upper body and the lower body covers the mounting grooves to formthe mounting cavity with the mounting grooves. One of the upper body andthe lower body has mounting grooves on the contacting surface to formthe mounting cavity with the other of the upper body and the lower body.The mounting cavity is invisible from the outside. The PCB box can beexpediently installed between the contacting surfaces of the upper andlower bodies which form an integrated structure of the pillow body.

In some embodiments, the upper body is formed by incising at least apart of an upper surface of the U-shaped part, a front surface of thefirst neck support, and an inner surface of the rear side of theU-shaped part, and the mounting grooves are arranged on the innersurface of the rear side of the U-shaped part of the lower body. Thisconfiguration provides more appropriately designed upper and lowerbodies as well as the mounting grooves.

In some embodiments, the body includes an auxiliary function detectingmodule electrically connected to the control module. The auxiliaryfunction detecting module includes one or more of a temperaturedetection module, a carbon dioxide concentration detection module and aPM2.5 concentration detection module. Various new functions can be addedto the smart neck pillow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a body of a smart neck pillow accordingto a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explosive view of the body of the smart neck pillowaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is another explosive view of the body of the smart neck pillowaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the smart neck pillow with a pillowcaseaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a functional schematic diagram of the smart neck pillowaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a body of a smart neck pillow accordingto a second embodiment.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 body, 2 U-shaped part, 3 first neck support, 4 second neck support, 5curved surface, 6 via, 7 control module, 8 pressure detection module, 9communication unit, 10 user mobile terminal, 11 horizontal gyroscopemodule, 12 PCB box, 14 positioning groove, 15 upper body, 16 lower body,17 mounting groove, 18 temperature detection module, 19 carbon dioxideconcentration detection module, 20 PM2.5 concentration detection module,21 pillowcase, 22 zipper, 23 rechargeable power source module, 24charging interface, 25 electric switch, 26 elastic band, 27 paster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described ingreater detail hereinafter.

In a first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, a smart neck pillowincludes a body 1 and a U-shaped part 2. The body 1 includes a firstneck support 3 extending upwards from the U-shaped part 2 to support anocciput of a user. A second neck support 4 to support the cervicalvertebrae around a shoulder extends downwards from the U-shaped part 2.A curved surface 5 to fit the shoulder of the human body is arranged onthe bottom of the U-shaped part 2. The first neck support 3 has a via 6corresponding to a center of the occiput, and a control module 7 and aplurality of pressure detection modules 8 arranged on the body 1. Theplurality of pressure detection modules 8 are all electrically connectedto the control module 7. Three pressure detection modules 8 are arrangedon the upper side, the left side and the right side of the via 6 of thefirst neck support 3, respectively.

The sleeping posture of the user is detected by the pressure detectionmodules 8 of the present disclosure. The pressure detection modules 8are distributed on the upper side, the left side and the right side ofthe via 6 of the first neck support 3. The magnitude of a pressuredetected by the pressure detection module 8 on the upper side is used todetermine whether the head is leaned forward or backward, and thedifference between the pressures detected by the left and right pressuredetection modules 8 is used to determine whether the head is leanedleftwards or rightwards. The sleeping posture information collected isthus more accurate and comprehensive. Each item of sleeping postureinformation collected by the pressure detection module 8 and the timeduration the user spends in that posture are recorded after beingprocessed by the control module, so that a series of personal cervicalvertebrae data can be summarized after a long time of usage by the user.The personal data is compared to medical occipital lesions of thecervical vertebrae to inform the user of any possible cervical vertebraeproblems and offer advice on a correct sleeping posture and preventionfrom occipital lesions.

In some embodiments, the control module 7 includes a communication unit9 communicatively coupled to a user mobile terminal 10. Thecommunication unit 9 can be a Wi-Fi or GPRS wireless communication unit9. This configuration allows uploading the sleeping posture informationand he time duration collected by the control module 7 to the usermobile terminal 10. The user has more convenience in acquiring thepersonal cervical vertebrae data and advice.

In some embodiments, a horizontal gyroscope module 11 is included whichis electrically connected to the control module 7. This configurationallows sensing of the leaning direction of the user by the pressuredetection module 8. The horizontal gyroscope module 11 can also be usedto sense the leaning angle and direction of the upper body of the userso that more comprehensive sleeping information can be collected.

In some embodiments, a PCB box 12 is included which contains the controlmodule 7 and the horizontal gyroscope module 11. The body 1 contains amounting cavity. The PCB box 12 is mounted in the mounting cavity of thebody 1. The control module 7 and the horizontal gyroscope module 11 areinstalled together in this configuration. A concise structure isachieved which serves as protection for the electronic components. Userconvenience is not affected since the PCB box 12 is embedded in the body1.

In some embodiments, positioning grooves 14 are arranged on the upperside, the left side and the right side of the via 6 of the first necksupport 3 to position the pressure detection modules 8 properly.

In some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body 1 includes anupper body 15 and a lower body 16. Mounting grooves 17 are arranged on acontacting surface of one of the upper body 15 and the lower body 16. Acontacting surface of the other one of the upper body 15 and the lowerbody 16 covers the mounting grooves 17 to form the mounting cavity withthe mounting grooves 17. By separating the body 1 into an upper body 15and a lower body 16, the mounting cavity for the PCB box 12 can beformed with the contacting surfaces of the body 1 so long as themounting grooves are provided on one of the contacting surfaces. Themounting cavity is invisible from the outside. The PCB box 13 can beexpediently installed between the contacting surfaces of the upper andlower bodies 15, 16 which form an integrated structure of the pillowbody 1.

In some embodiments, the upper body 15 is formed by incising at least apart of an upper surface of the U-shaped part 2, a front surface of thefirst neck support 3, and an inner surface of the rear side of theU-shaped part 2. The mounting grooves 17 are arranged on the innersurface of the rear side of the U-shaped part 2 of the lower body. Thisconfiguration provides more appropriately designed upper and lowerbodies 15, 16 as well as the mounting grooves 17.

In some embodiments, the body 1 includes an auxiliary function detectingmodule electrically connected to the control module 7. The auxiliaryfunction detecting module includes one or more of a temperaturedetection module 18, a carbon dioxide concentration detection module 19and a PM2.5 concentration detection module 20. Various new functions canbe added to the smart neck pillow.

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 4, the body 1 is covered by apillow case 21. A zipper 22 is arranged on the pillow case 21 at the via6 of the first neck support 3. The body 1 can be protected from stainsby replacing the pillow case 21. The zipper 22 is provided for replacingthe pillow case 21.

In some embodiments, a rechargeable power source module 23 and acharging interface 24 electrically connected thereto are arranged on thebody 1. The rechargeable power source module 23 can be mounted in eitherone of the mounting cavity and the PCB box 12. The charging interface 24is hidden inside the pillow case 21 with its outer ends adjacent to thezipper 22 of the pillow case 21.

In some embodiments, the inner ends of the charging interface 24 areadjacent to the mounting cavity to provide some supporting force by therelatively tougher PCB box 12 when the charging interface 24 is presseddown. The supporting force provided by the PCB box 12 avoids chargingproblems raised due to the inwardly sunken charging interface 24 causedby the softness of the materials of the body 1.

In some embodiments, an electric switch 25 exposed on the surface of thebody 1 is included which is electrically connected between therechargeable power source and the control module 7. The configurationfacilitates switching on or off the power.

In some embodiments, the electric switch 25 is arranged on left side orright side of the opening on the upper surface of the U-shaped part 2 sothat the user may expediently operate the electric switch 25.

A work flow of the smart pillow of the present disclosure is as follows:

If the pressure detected by the three pressure detection modules 8 onthe upper side, left side and right side of the via 6 are less than afirst set point value, a second set point value and a third set pointvalue respectively, it is concluded the head is leaned forward. When thehead is leaned forward, the pressure detection module 8 above the via 6usually detects no pressure, i.e., zero pressure, and the pressuredetection modules 8 on the left and right sides detect relativelysmaller pressure values. If the pressure values then detected by thepressure detection modules 8 on the left and right sides are equal toeach other, it is suggested the head is leaned forward but not tiltedaround. If the pressure detection module 8 on the left side of the via 6then detects a pressure larger than that detected by the pressuredetection module 8 on the right side and the difference therebetween islarger than a fourth set point value, it is suggested the head is leanedforward and leftwards. Otherwise, the head is leaned forward andrightwards.

If the pressure detected by the three pressure detection modules 8 onthe upper side, left side and right side of the via 6 are larger thanthe first set point value, the second set point value and the third setpoint value respectively, and less than a fifth set point value, a sixthset point value and a seventh set point value respectively, the head isneither leaned forward nor backwards. If the pressure values thendetected by the pressure detection modules 8 on the left and right sidesare equal to each other, it is suggested the head is neither leanedleftwards nor rightwards. If the pressure detection module 8 on the leftside of the via 6 then detects a pressure larger than that detected bythe pressure detection module 8 on the right side and the differencetherebetween is larger than a eighth set point value, it is suggestedthe head is leaned leftwards but neither forward nor backwards.Otherwise, the head is leaned rightwards but neither forward norbackwards.

If the pressure detected by the three pressure detection modules 8 onthe upper side, left side and right side of the via 6 are larger thanthe fifth set point value, the sixth set point value and the seventh setpoint value respectively, it is suggested the head is leaned backwards.If the pressure values then detected by the pressure detection modules 8on the left and right sides are equal to each other, it is suggested thehead is leaned backwards but neither leftwards nor rightwards. If thepressure detection module 8 on the left side of the via 6 then detects apressure larger than that detected by the pressure detection module 8 onthe right side and the difference therebetween is larger than a ninthset point value, it is suggested the head is leaned leftwards andbackwards. Otherwise, the head is leaned rightwards and backwards. Thefirst, second and third set point values are respectively smaller thanthe fifth, sixth and seventh set point values.

If a deflection angle detected by the horizontal gyroscope module 11 isgreater than a tenth set point value, it is suggested the upper body ofthe user is inclined. A greater deflection angle detected by thehorizontal gyroscope module 11 indicates a greater inclining of theupper body of the user. The sleeping posture information and timeduration collected by the pressure detection each time are recordedafter being processed by the control module 7. The control module 7uploads the collected sleeping posture information and time duration toa mobile terminal of the user so that the user have better understandingof his or her sleeping postures. A series of personal cervical vertebraedata can be summarized after a long time of usage by the user. Thepersonal data is compared to medical occipital lesions of the cervicalvertebrae to inform the user of any possible cervical vertebrae problemsand offer advice on a correct sleeping posture and prevention fromoccipital lesions.

In a second embodiment as shown in Fig.6, distinguishing technicalfeatures include arranging a pressure detection module 8 on the lowerside of the via 6 of the first neck support 3. The pressure detectionmodule 8 on the lower side assists the pressure detection module 8 onthe upper side in determination of the leaning direction of the head formore accurate results. The pressure detection module 8 on the lower sideis also used to determine a tightness level related to matching of theU-shaped part 2 and the human neck to allow proper user adjustment. Anelastic band 26 and a paster 27 are usually provided on the smart neckpillow to fix the body 1 as shown in FIG. 4. The tightness level relatedto matching of the U-shaped part 2 and the human neck can be adjusted byadjusting the docking positions of the elastic band 26 and the paster27.

What is claimed is:
 1. A smart neck pillow comprising a body (1) havinga U-shaped part (2), wherein the body (1) comprises: a first necksupport (3) extending upwards from the U-shaped part (2) to support anocciput of a user, the first neck support (3) having a via (6)corresponding to a center of the occiput, and a control module (7) and aplurality of pressure detection modules (8) arranged on the body (1),the plurality of pressure detection modules (8) being electricallyconnected to the control module (7), the plurality of pressure detectionmodules (8) being arranged at least on the upper side, the left side andthe right side of the via (6) of the first neck support (3).
 2. Thesmart neck pillow of claim 1, wherein the pressure detection modules (8)are further arranged on the lower side of the via (6) of the first necksupport (3).
 3. The smart neck pillow of claim 1, wherein the controlmodule (7) comprises a communication unit (9) communicatively coupled toa user mobile terminal (10).
 4. The smart neck pillow of claim 1,further comprising a horizontal gyroscope module (11) electricallyconnected to the control module (7) and arranged on the body (1).
 5. Thesmart neck pillow of claim 4, further comprising a PCB box (12), whereinthe control module (7) and the horizontal gyroscope module (11) areinstalled in the PCB box (12), the body (1) comprises a mounting cavity,and the PCB box (12) is installed in the mounting cavity of the body(1).
 6. The smart neck pillow of claim 1,wherein positioning grooves(14) are arranged on the upper side, the left side and the right side ofthe via (6) of the first neck support (3) to mount the pressuredetection modules (8).
 7. The smart neck pillow of claim 5, wherein thebody (1) comprises an upper body (15) and a lower body (16), mountinggrooves (17) are arranged on a contacting surface of one of the upperbody (15) and the lower body (16), a contacting surface of the other oneof the upper body (15) and the lower body (16) covers the mountinggrooves (17) to form the mounting cavity with the mounting grooves (17).8. The smart neck pillow of claim 7, wherein the upper body (15) isformed by incising at least a part of an upper surface of the U-shapedpart (2), a front surface of the first neck support (3), and an innersurface of the rear side of the U-shaped part (2), and the mountinggrooves (17) are arranged on the inner surface of the rear side of theU-shaped part (2).
 9. The smart neck pillow of claim 1, wherein the body(1) comprises an auxiliary function detecting module electricallyconnected to the control module (7), said auxiliary function detectingmodule comprises one or more of a temperature detection module (18), acarbon dioxide concentration detection module (19) and a PM2.5concentration detection module (20).